“I would like to say it wasn’t against me. It was supporting him,” Alcaraz said of the Brazilian fans’ loud cheering. “I think that’s a big difference… I would say they were respectful most of the match, just supporting him when they have to.”
He added that he “didn’t want to silence anybody” either.
“I wanted to just do my stuff, do my job and try to play my best, because I know Joao and what he’s able to do in a tennis court…
“I just tried to be focused, try not to hear anything from the crowd, and just going forward all the time. I’m just proud that I was able to do it.
“But at the same time, I just had so much fun with such a great atmosphere out there.”
The Spaniard will face No. 32 seed Sebastian Korda in the third round.
He is bidding to win his second title in Miami, having lifted his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy here in 2022.
